Beginning Jan. 1, Gulf Power customers will see a decrease in their electricity bill. The Florida Public Service Commission has approved a decrease in electricity bills due to lower coal and natural gas prices.

Currently, the electricity bill for an average home buying 1,000 kilowatt-hours is $127.16. At the beginning of 2012, the same amount of electricity will cost $125.80, a decrease of $1.36.

 “The FPSC adjusts our prices each year based on the cost of the fuel used to make electricity, power bought from other utilities and providers, environmental compliance expenses and the cost of energy efficiency programs for customers,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power Corporate Communications supervisor.

Gulf Power monitors its fuel mix to use the most cost-effective generation available at any time during the day. That has helped the company take advantage of some lower fuel prices for coal and natural gas – the two major fuels Gulf Power uses to make electricity.

“We are pleased with this decrease because it will partially offset the base rate increase request we have before the FPSC,” said Rogers. “If the PSC grants the full amount of the request — the total cost for 1,000 kilowatt-hours was expected to be $134.82. Now, with this decrease, the total will be $133.46. We understand that’s a small decrease, but hopefully fuel costs will continue to decline and we can continue to pass along those savings to our customers.”

Customers can find additional savings by making their homes more energy efficient. There are many low-cost and no-cost programs to help customers save money and energy available at www.gulfpower.com or by calling 1-877-655-4001.

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 430,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy to very satisfied customers in strong communities. Visit online at GulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page, “Gulf Power Company.”